Aug.3 (GMM) Niki Lauda’s family is not commenting on reports the F1 legend is in a critical condition after a lung transplant. We reported earlier that the Mercedes team chairman skipped the last two grands prix with a serious flu that left him in intensive care. But the Vienna hospital that treated him has now […]
Month: August 2018
Officials play down Malaysia night race rumours
Aug.3 (GMM) Reports that Malaysia could return to the F1 calendar with a night race have been played down by officials. This week, the former Malaysian grand prix circuit at Sepang near Kuala Lumpur launched a floodlighting system. It has been suggested the venue could be making a new bid to return to the F1 […]
Tost happy McLaren’s Honda project failed
Aug.3 (GMM) Franz Tost says he is happy McLaren’s collaboration with Honda did not work out. The Austrian is the boss at Toro Rosso, the junior Red Bull team. Next year, the senior outfit Red Bull Racing will also be powered by works Honda engines. “Our collaboration with Honda is fantastic,” Tost told Marca sports […]
Ricciardo says 2019 announcement due soon
Aug.2 (GMM) Daniel Ricciardo says his Red Bull contract is finally ready to be announced. Having flirted with Mercedes and Ferrari, it was expected that Ricciardo’s extended Red Bull deal could be made official last weekend in Hungary. “A little tweaking is needed here and there, but everything is fine,” the Australian said at the […]
Raikkonen still waiting on Ferrari decision
Aug.2 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen says he is still waiting to know if he will be a Ferrari driver in 2019. Not long ago, an Italian newspaper reported confidently that the Finn will be replaced by Charles Leclerc. But then president Sergio Marchionne died, and it is believed the new management now thinks Raikkonen should be […]
2019 ‘interim year’ for Red Bull-Honda – Horner
Aug.2 (GMM) Christian Horner has played down expectations for Red Bull’s first year with works Honda power. One of F1’s top three teams, the energy drink owned outfit will start using Japanese-made engines from 2019. But boss Horner told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I certainly expect that the first year will be an interim year […]
Villeneuve plays down ‘Jesus Christ’ comparison
Aug.2 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has played down quotes that suggested he thinks Lewis Hamilton behaves like Jesus Christ. The quotes spread like wildfire on the internet, but outspoken 1997 world champion Villeneuve says they were taken out of context. “I never made this statement in an interview with a media outlet,” he told Le Journal […]
Ferrari’s talks with Liberty still on – Camilleri
Aug.2 (GMM) Ferrari’s new CEO says talks about the future with Liberty Media are progressing. Louis Camilleri has replaced Sergio Marchionne, who died last week of cancer. Marchionne is believed to have been locked in complex talks with F1 owner Liberty Media, after threatening to quit the sport over the commercial arrangements beyond 2020. “There […]
Norris waiting on Alonso’s decision for 2019
Aug.2 (GMM) Lando Norris says it is up to McLaren to decide if he will make his F1 debut in 2019. The 18-year-old Briton is fighting for this year’s Formula 2 championship, but linked with a seat at McLaren for next year. “Ideally, I’ll be with McLaren next year,” Marca sports newspaper quotes Norris, a […]
Lauda left intensive care after flu
Aug.2 (GMM) F1 legend Niki Lauda is currently in hospital. The Mercedes team chairman missed the past two grands prix, amid reports he has the flu. Actually, his condition was more serious than that. Osterreich newspaper reports that the 69-year-old has actually been in hospital for 12 days, having flown himself in his private jet […]
Too early to assess 2019 wing – Kubica
Aug.2 (GMM) Robert Kubica says it’s too early to assess the effectiveness of the new front wings for 2019. Several teams, including Williams, were running 2019-spec front wing designs at the post-Hungarian grand prix test this week. The wings are designed to help boost overtaking from next year. “It’s wider and you can feel that,” […]
Renault worried about F1 ‘B teams’
Aug.2 (GMM) Renault is worried about the rise of ‘B teams’ in formula one. We reported that Williams, McLaren and Renault are opposing the straightforward transfer of income and rights to Force India’s next owners. In the case of Renault, it appears boss Cyril Abiteboul is concerned that Force India will become a Mercedes ‘B […]
Renault hits back at Red Bull fury
Aug.1 (GMM) Any niceties between Red Bull and Renault are now in the past. The two parties are splitting at the end of the year, with Red Bull moving to works Honda power. But tempers are fraying, as team boss Christian Horner and driver Max Verstappen unloaded fury on Renault following another technical problem in […]
De la Rosa warns against McLaren move for Sainz
Aug.1 (GMM) Pedro de la Rosa is not sure an all-Spanish driver lineup at McLaren next year would be a “dream”. Carlos Sainz is being linked with the seat alongside his friend and countryman Fernando Alonso at McLaren for 2019. Some in Spain might consider it a dream team, but former F1 driver de la […]